Egg-carton.



0. C. FENLASON.

EGG CARTON.

APPLICATION men MAR. 31. 19:1;

1,235,886. Patented, Aug. 7,1917.

, 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fig 1.

v mwj W 2mm ATTORNEY 0. C. FENLASON.

EGG CARTON.

avvubmou min mm. 3|. m1.

.1 $235,886. Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

3' SHEETS-:SHEET 2.

.VITN ESSES ATTO R N EY 0. c. FENLASON.

EGG CARTON.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1917.

1,235,886. Patehted Aug. 7,1917.

' a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

g l; e m jmvawroa WITNESSES ATTORNEY OBIN C. FENLASON, 01-1 RAYMOND,WASHINGTON.

EGG-CARTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au. 7, 1917.

Application filed March 31, 1917. Serial No. 158,925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORIN O. FnNLAsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Raymond in the county of Pacific and State of VVashingt-on,have invented a new and useful Egg-Carton, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to egg cartons.

The object is to provide a container for eggs, fruit or other articles,wherein a plurality of such articles may be safely carried, either in asingle cell case, as, for instance, when delivered to the consumer, orwhich may be conveniently packed in large quantities for shipment.

Another object is to provide a container of this class, composed ofwood-veneer, cardboard, or similar material, which comprises a minimumnumber of parts, held together by a minimum number of staples, orsimilar fastening devices, and which may be conveniently folded orcollapsed into a flat form for the purpose of shipment of the emptycartons in quantities, so as to occupy a minimum amount of space intransit.

A further object is to construct a foldable carton consisting ofindividual cells formed by bending the material in the proper manner,after the same has been scored, which scoring, in the present instance,is all done upon one side of the several strips forming the carton cellcase, and the said strips are all of even width, thus necessitating thepassage of the material through the cutting, scoring and severingmachine but once, thereby greatly reducing the cost of manufacture, and,by reason of the particular manner of formation, efiecting a materialsaving in the quantity of material utilized in the carton.

The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction ofcollapsible cell case comprising a body member forming the sides and oneend of the case and a series of individual box-like compartmentsarranged between the sides of the body member and spaced from each otherand from the end wall of the body member a sufficient distance to formcompartments of substantially equal size to that of the box likecompartments, said compartments being preferably divided into smallercompartments by a longitudinal partition strip and being connected tothe sides of the outer member by a minimum number of staples.

, A full andcomplete understanding of the invention may be obtained froma consideration of the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification; it being understood that while the drawings show apractical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strictconformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long as suchchanges or modifications do not depart from the salient features of theinvention, as specifically pointed out in the claims appended.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters designate similarparts through the several figures:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an egg carton, constructedin accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cell case removed from the outer retainingcase or member.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the cell case.

Fig. 4: is a transverse section taken on the line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the strip forming the side wallsand one end wall of the cell case, in folded position.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the strips formin thetransverse partitions of the cell case, in folded position.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the i central longitudinalpartition of the cell case.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the outer retaining case ormember forming the top and bottom of the carton.

9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but having a somewhat modified form ofouter retaining case applied thereto.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the retaining case shown in Fig.9.

Fig. 11 is another modified form of retaining case.

The invention consists primarily in a cell case having separatedcompartments, each capable of holding an egg or other article, and thesaid case may have any desired number of compartments, a dozen havingbeen found the most advantageous, although it will be readily seen thatthe device may be arranged with a greater or less number as businessconditions may dictate.

The cell case is generally oblong in shape, being preferably of a lengthand width sufficient to accommodate two rows of six eggs each, and is ofa height substantially equal to the longest dimension of an average egg,7

the latter, when placed in the cell, being in an upstanding position.

A strip 01 veneer or other material' fo'rmi ing the body member issuitably scored transversely of its length at intermediate points andbent at right angles along said scores to form one end wall 3 and thetwo side walls of the cell case, (Fig. 5). The

terminals of the side walls 1 and 2 are preferably tapered, as at 4, toavoid any sharp corners. 7

Transverse partitions are provided in properly spaced relation to theend wall 3, and are formed in pairs 5 and 6 composed of a single pieceor strip of material, the same width as that forming the said sides andend member 1, 2 and 3 respectively, (Fig. 6). The partitions 5 and 6 areequal, in length, to the end wall 3 and are joined, at one end, by anintegral panel 7, and are provided, at their opposite ends, withintegral overlapping end fiaps 8 and 9, bent at right angles to thepartitions 5 and 6 and directed toward each other, and adapted tolie'fiat against the inner wall of either the side member 1 or 2. Eachpair of partitions with its connected panels and flaps form rectangularbox-like compartments, which are spaced the end flaps 8 and 9,v asclearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing} From this figure it willalso be seen that the transverse partition member 6 on the extreme leftforms the end wall of the cell case opposite to the end wall 3, and thusthe necessary sides and ends are'formed, with a series of transversepartitions; the entire structure, thus far described being securelyfastened in such posit'ion by staples 10 or other suitable devices,passing through the panels 7 and member 2, on one side, and the endflaps 8 and 9 and the wall 1, on the other side. The staples 10 areplaced close to either the partition 5 or 6 in order that the eggs, whenplaced in the case will not come into contact therewith, and becomecracked or broken when inserted or removed or by jarring and joltingincident to transit.

The transverse partitions 5 and 6, with the exception of the partition'6which forms the end wall of the case, are all similarly slotted,

as indicated at 11, at a central point of each, said slots extendingfrom the upper edges of the same to a point half-way of their height.The upper corners formed by said slots are beveled or cut away, as at12,

'stantially square in plan view.

order to facilitate the introduction of a longitudinal central partitionor divlslon strip 13, which is formed of similar material to the partsalready described, and is of a length sufiicient to reach from the endwall 3 to the opposite end wall, formed by the member 6 as beforedescribed. This strip divides the compartments as well as the spacesbetween each compartment into indi vidual cells which are of a size toreceive an egg or a singlespecimen of fruit.

This longitudinal partition 13 is provided with slots 14 having beveledentrances 15, extending from its lower edge to a point 'midway of itsheight and in registering recase into twelve equal compartments,sub-

An outer retaining member or case 16 is applied to the cell case, afterthe latter has been filled, the said member being formed of a strip ofveneer of a width substantially equal to the height of the cell case,and comprises a top 17 a bottom 18 and end walls 19 and 20. The latteris formed by overlapping terminal flaps provided on the strip formingthe retaining member 16, and are held in position by staples 21 or othersuitable fasteners, placed adjacent the end edges of the said flaps. VThe'said strip is suitably scored to permit of the necessary bending toform the four sides of the member or case 16, and it will be noticedthat all of the scoring in the several parts is doneon one side of thestrip of material, which simplifies the process of manufacture. I

The member 16 is adapted to be slipped horizontally over one long sideof the filled cell case until each longitudinal edge thereof 'liesfiu-sh with theside walls 1 and 2, when the cell case is substantiallybraced by the retaining member or case, and the top 17 and bottom 18effectually prevent the eggs from falling out of the case and also formsa cushion for the same. The eggs are thus supported upon all sides byresilient walls which reduce the-damage and loss to a minimum.

A retaining member 22 is shown in Fig. 10, which is of somewhat modifiedconstruction, being composed of a strip ofveneer substantially equal tothe width of the cell case heretofore described, and scored and bent toform a bottom 23, end walls '24 and a top composed of overlappingmembers 25 and 26 which are equal in 'length to the bottom 23. Nostaples or other rastening means are used in this form of retainer, it

being adapted to be placed around a filled cell case in the manner ofwrapping and to be tied with a string. This form of retainer or outercase is particularly adapted for retail trade.

The form shown in Fig. 11 dispenses with the necessity for using theabove mentioned string, as the two overlapping members 25 and 26 areprovided with locking slits 27 and 28 respectively, which are used tohold the members together, in a well known manner.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an extremely simple egg cartonhas been constructed which will effectually perform the work ofprotecting the eggs while in transit, of maintaining them in the desiredupright position, and that the same is well adapted for packing inquantities in cases or in handling as individual containers for a smallnumber of eggs. It will also be seen that the device is capable of beingfiattened out, when the cell case and the re taining member areseparated, so that the two parts may be packed in bundles or otherwisefor the purpose of shipping in large quantities.

It will be noted on reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings that but sixstaples are required to connect each individual compartment with thesides of the outer body member, three staples being used on each side,said staples performing the double function of securing the overlappedends of the compartments to each other, as well as securing saidcompartments to the sides of the body member.

WVhat is claimed is 1. collapsible cell case composed of an outer bodymember made of a single piece of material scored and bent to provide twosides and one end of the case, box-like compartments each formed of asingle piece of material, each compartment being arranged between andsecured to the sides of the outer body member and spaced from the endthereof and also spaced from each other a distance suflicient to formintermediate compartments of substantially equal dimensions to saidbox-like compartments, the outer wall of the end compartment remote fromthe end wall of the outer member constituting the end wall of the case.

2. A collapsible cell case composed of an outer body member made of asingle piece of material scored and bent to provide two sides and oneend of the case, box-like compartments each formed of a single piece ofmaterial and arranged between the sides of the outer body member andspaced from the end thereof and also spaced from each other a distancesufficient to form intermediate compartments of substantially equal.dimensions to said box-like compartments, the outer wall of the endcompartment remote from the end wall of the outer member constitutingthe end wall of the case, means for connecting said compartments to thesides of the outer member, and a transverse division strip dividing eachcompartment and the spaces between the compartments into cells ofsubstantially equal dimensions.

3. A collapsible cell case consisting of an outer member formed of asingle piece of material scored and bent to provide two sides and oneend of the said cell case, a series of box-like compartments ofsubstantially equal height to the said outer member, said box-likecompartments being spaced from the said end wall of the outer member andspaced from each other a sufficient distance to form compartments orspaces substantially equal to the area of the boxlike compartments, saidcompartments being each made of a single piece of material forming apair of transverse partitions connected by a panel at one end andoverlapping flaps at the other, means for securing the flaps and panelsof each compartment to the sides of the outer member, and a divisionstrip arranged substantially parallel with the sides of the outer memberand crossing the partition strips of each compartment so as to dividethe latter and the spaces between the compartments into cells, thepartition strip of the end compartment remote from the end of the outermember constituting the end wall of the cell case.

4. A collapsible cell case composed of an outer body member made of asingle piece of material, boX-like compartments each formed of a singlepiece of material and arranged within the body member and bearingagainst the sides thereof, said compartments being spaced from one endof the body member and also spaced from each other a. distancesufficient to form intermediate compartments of substantially equaldimensions to said box-like compartments, means for connecting saidcompartments to the sides of the outer member, and a transverse divisionstrip separate from the body member and dividing each compartment andthe spaces between the compartments into cells of substantially equaldimensions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ORIN C. FENLASON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, ANNIE MYERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. 0.

